Opera Soloists / Mezzo-Sopranos

In 1985 Ms. Laima Jonutytė made her debut at the LNOBT as Larina in P. Tchaikovsky’s opera “Eugene Onegin”. She graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music in 1986, in 1991 finished her internship at the Academy and also was an intern in Denmark, where she studied with prof. A. Orlovitz. Since 1991 she has been a soloist with the opera company of the LNOBT. In 2006 she was awarded a special Public Prize in the opera category.

Ms. Laima Jonutytė is an intuitive performer, reacting sensitively to different musical styles, the ideas of conductors and directors – her artistry and temperament enable her to create unique interpretations of well-known roles. Ms. Jonutytė has created many colourful operatic roles, is often performing in concerts of chamber music and preparing lied performances. She performed solo parts in oratorios, cantatas and Masses written by J. S. Bach, A. Dvorak, W. A. Mozart, F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, F. Schubert, G. F. Handel, L. van Beethoven, G. Mahler and others.

As requested by composer P. Eötvös, Ms. Jonutytė performed the role of Martina Laborde during premiere performances of “Love and Other Demons” shown in Strasbourg. The first two performances were conducted by Mr. Eötvös himself.

Ms. Jonutytė participated in such festivals as Schlesvig-Holstein, Ravenna (Italy), International Music Festival San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Spain), International Festival of Sacred Music in Nuremberg (Germany), Haydn-Schubert (Vilnius), Pažaislis Music Festival and other festivals in Lithuania. She performed in Bulgaria, Spain, Hungary, Germany, USA, Great Britain, countries of Latin America, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus and elsewhere.

Ms. Eugenija Klivickaitė completed her vocal studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Elena Drasutienė’s class. Since 1993 she has been a soloist with the LNOBT. In 1990 she became a laureate of the International J. Medins Competition in Riga, one year later participated in an International Competition for Singers in Toulouse. Ms. Klivickaitė performed mezzo-soprano roles in G. Verdi’s “Requiem”, A. Dvorak’s “Requiem”, C. Frank’s “Les beatitudies”, A. Honegger’s “Jeanne D’Arc au Bucher”, F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s “Elias”, L. van Beethoven’s “Messe in D Major”, C. Saint-Saens “Oratorio de Noel”, F. Schubert’s “Messe in Es Major”, G. B. Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater”, A. Vivaldi’s “Gloria”, A. Södermann’s “Katolsk Mässa” and other works.

Ms. Linaburgytė graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (prof. V. Daunoras and assoc. prof. N. Mameniškienė’s class) and in the same year became a soloist with the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre. In 1994 she was awarded a diploma in an International Young Singers Competition in Riga. Two years later she participated in “Voci Verdiane” competition in Buseto (Italy), winning a special prize and a concert tour in Japan. In 2004 Ms. Linaburgytė was awarded Knight’s Cross of Vytautas the Great.

During her career I. Linaburgytė has prepared more than 30 roles. In 2005, already a prominent mezzo-soprano, she perfected her skills at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow together with Makvala Kasrashvilli; during the internship she was advised by the authorities of opera to start singing roles of dramatic soprano and prepared Lisa, Turandot and Senta. As a soprano, Ms. Linaburgytė made her debut at the LNOBT with the role of Turandot.

I. Linaburgytė performed different roles at the Latvian National Opera, including Tosca (G. Puccini’s “Tosca” directed by D. Bertman), Santuza (P. Mascagni “Cavalleria Rusticana”) and others. A. Bozich, who conducted the production of “Cavalleria rusticana” in Riga, invited her to sing the role of Santuza in Graz (Austria), where she regularly sang the part for the three following years.

In 2004 Ms. Jovita Vaškevičiūtė graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (prof. Sigutė Stonytė’s class), in 2004-2006 served an internship at the LNOBT’s Opera Studio, studying with prof. V. Noreika and V. Viržonis. In 1998 she was a participant of the Zenonas Paulauskas’ Young Singers Competition, in 2000 she won 2nd place at the same competition. In 2003 she also took part in the V. Januškaitė-Zaunienė’s Competition.

Ms. Vaškevičiūtė made her debut at the LNOBT in 2006 as Ulrica (“Un ballo in maschera”). She is currently singing at the Vanemuine Theatre in Estonia, various Latvian theatres, Klaipėda Musical Theatre, collaborating with Lithuanian National Symphony and Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestras. She sung mezzo-soprano parts in G. Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, G. Verdi’s “Requiem”, M. Durufle’s “Requiem” , A. Dvorak "Requiem" and other works. The soloist participated in many events organized by the Lithuanian Musicians Aid Foundation, also in festival “Gaida”, performed in concerts together with early music ensemble “Musica Humana” (dir. A. Vizgirda).

In 2006 Ms. Vaškevičiūtė was awarded an “Operos Švyturiai” Award in the category “Opera Hope of the Year”, for her role of Suzuki in G. Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly”, directed by Anthony Minghella.

Dominga in P. Eötvös’ opera “Love and Other Demons” was the role that brought incredible success to Ms. Vaškevičiūtė and launched her successful career in Europe. In 2010 “Love and Other Demons” was presented in Cologne, and the soloist was invited by the composer herself to sing the role of Dominga in the premiere performances. In the autumn of that same year J. Vaškevičiūtė made her debut as Dominga in Strasbourg (France). The first two premieres were conducted by P. Eötvös himself, who claimed that J. Vaškevičiūtė is “the best Dominga I know”.

There was a special audition organized in Strasbourg especially for J. Vaškevičiūtė. She was invited to sing Amneris in six performances of “Aida” presented at the Cologne Opera and to perform 8 evenings of G. Verdi “Requiem”.